I'd like to point out that this video is a damn good example of how not too fire breathe.

I'd have thought that Guinness would have had very strict health and safety practices in place for that!.

For the fact that the you sets your tee-shirt on fire and didn't notice, the presenter comes running in to put out the fire and make you wonder what was going on and the presenter nearly falls on his ass from the wet paraffin coated flooring.

Just because this is for Guinness or not, I think that it disrespects the whole aim of safety awareness that we try to create here on HoP as a community... for the fact that it was for Guinness and that there was a lack of any safety from either party in my opinion...

then that shouldn't be shown here, no offence Draevon.

But congratulations on you record in 2005.

PK.

"To be an angel, one need not have wings.In giving love there is an equal grace.Nor need one seek the aura in the face,As love unveils the beauty of all things."

I'd have thought that Guinness would have had very strict health and safety practices in place for that!.

For the fact that the you sets your tee-shirt on fire and didn't notice, the presenter comes running in to put out the fire and make you wonder what was going on and the presenter nearly falls on his ass from the wet paraffin coated flooring.

Just because this is for Guinness or not, I think that it disrespects the whole aim of safety awareness that we try to create here on HoP as a community... for the fact that it was for Guinness and that there was a lack of any safety from either party in my opinion...

then that shouldn't be shown here, no offence Draevon.

But congratulations on you record in 2005.

Guinness aren't really that good at making efforts to research and understand many of the arts they record records for.

It's well known in juggling that there's been considerable controversy about guiness juggling records, to the extent that several of their numbers records are actually false and the juggling community has set up its own database of records cos guinness can't seem to get it right.

(They had problems in the past with confusing a 'flash' for a juggle, for example).

Posted:29th Apr 2007To respond to a bit of this - First of all, the record is measured from the ground. I know this isn't ideal, and I am certainly aware of the difference in record height depending on the height of the performer, but in attempting to break an existing record for Guinness, I am forced to follow the conditions of the record set previously. For Guinness, the conditions under which the original record is established are the conditions under which all other record attempts must be attempted. The original record and all other record attempts have been measured from the ground.

I believe the original record was something over three metres, then Bob set the record at 4.1 metres, which I later broke to set the current record at 5.4 metres. All of these records were measured from the ground as that is part of the conditions of this record. These conditions were set long before I ever made an attempt on the record.

As far as safety goes, obviously it is regrettable that I caught fire, but it certainly highlights the ever present danger that is a part of fire breathing. This is actually the first time I'm ever had an item of clothing catch alight. Safety was not completely disregarded as PK has suggested. The host (in the suit) was prepped in spotting prior to the attempt. There was a second spotter on the other side of the set about 3 metres from me equipped with a fire blanket, as well as a studio fire warden with an extinguisher a little further off stage with two ambulance officers. The floor was mopped after the initial introduction performance and again between each of the attempts. I was wearing triple layered cotton clothing and was covered in barrier cream on my face, neck and entire upper body. I had consumed milk, bread and activated charcoal capsules before and after the show as well as several other bits and pieces as part of my personal safely regime. I was using a fuel with a flashpoint of 41 degrees celsius and had copies of the MSDS on site.

As I said it's not ideal that there was an incident, but if you mix fuel and fire there is always the chance that something like that will happen. It is because of the various safety measures in place that no-one was hurt and the incident was minimised.

Posted:30th Apr 2007Glad to hear that there were safety measures in place, and as you said the incident was minimalised and that you or others didn't sustain injury.

In regards to the measurements procedure, I think that overall that they are very unfair and inaccurate they should be using imaging equipment that can take multi frame stills against a plain background so that they can measure the flame accurately from exit to highest point of the flame.

I agree with Dave that Guinness are slack with understanding what they are doing recording these art forms... better leave it to independent experts in the know.

PK.

"To be an angel, one need not have wings.In giving love there is an equal grace.Nor need one seek the aura in the face,As love unveils the beauty of all things."